Belt conveyer



Sept. 24, 1940.

E, N. LIGHTFOOT BELT CONVEYER Filed May 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SBPL 249.1940- E. YN. LIGHTFOOT 2,215,647

BELT GONVEYER Filed May 22, 1957 4v Sheets-Sheet 2 nul Sp- 24. l94- E. N. LIGHTFOOT BELT CONVEYER Filed may 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sap. 24, 1940. E NILJGHTFQQT 2,215,647

BELT coNvEYER Filed Hay 22, p37 4 sheets-sheet 4.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 .UNH S,

BELT CONVEYER Edwin N. Lightfoot, Wauwatosa, Wis., assigner to Cutler- Hammer, Inc.

poration of Delaware Milwaukee, Wis., acor- Application May 22, 1937, vSerial No. 144,162 ,9 claims. (ci. 19a- 203) t ThsinVentiOn relates to belt conveyors.

The invention relates more particularly to newspaper conveyers of "the type disclosed in the patent to G. BpReisbach et al., No. 1,508,351 lof Septeniber, 1924, and has among its objects to simplify and generally improve the construction andloperation of conveyers'of this type. y Another objectis to increase the carrying ca pacity of conveyers of the aforesaid type and to ,lo provide a simplified and improved driving mechanism therefor.

.Another object is to provide a so-called corner unit for'conveyers ofthe aforesaid type including a relatively high speed shaft drive and belt rollers which are driven therefrom through the medium `of speed reducing gearing.

Another object is to provide an improved sin- `gle roller drive unit which is shaft driven and is "capable of use in various locations, as for example `between substantially alined conveyer sections.

t Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

AAn 'embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings,'and the same will now be` described, it being understood that 'the' conveyer sections illustrated may be used in any preferred relation and may be modied in various respects without departing from the l spirit and scope .of the appended claims.

In the drawings, t j Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically one application of a conveyer embodying the invention; Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a shaft drive for the conveyer shown in Fig. 1;

vFigli is a side .elevational view of a corner unit diagrammatically villustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, .said gure also illustrating pipe supports for the conveyer having an idler roller mounted thereon; Fig. l is a iront elevational view of the corner illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 15`5 .of Fig. 3;

145 Fig. 6 is a sectional View takensubstantially on line l-ii` of Fig. 4';

Fig. I is -a plan view of a section drive unit diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2;- Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the section drive unit taken on line 8 8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9 for Fig. 8;

` Fig. 10 is an end elevational view looking to Y the Vleft of Fig. 7;

'ha-s three drive rollers associated therewith, such Fig. l1 is an elevational view partly in section of a shaft support illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 isa side View of the shaft support illustrated in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a side elevational `view of an idler. rollersupport employed in the conveyer shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1,'the same diagrammatically illustrates one yapplication of the conveyer which provides for delivery of newspapers from a press conveyer A to conveyer B which vmay be associated with a press delivery table of the usual type. The newspapers are carried upwardly from press conveyer A by a vertical conveyer -section C and thence horizontally by a conveyer section D to a `15 vertical conveyer section E which delivers the newspapers to the delivery table conveyer B. In each of the aforesaid conveyer sections the newspapers are carried byr helical spring belts having driving rollers R and idler rollers IR associated therewith. In conveyer section C the newspapers are-carriedbetween two sets of 4belts l and 2 and also in conveyer section E the newspapers are carried between two belt sets, one set consisting of belts 3 and d and the other set consist- 25 ing of belts 5 and '6.V In the horizontal conveyer 'section D the-papers are carried on the upper side'of sets of belts l, 8 and 9 which 4are arranged in an lend to end relation. f

As hereinafter set fort-h, certain ofthe driving 30 rollers R are associated with corner units designated 4by reference characters CU1, CU2, CU3 and CU4 Aand certa-in other drivingr rollers are associated with section drivev units designated vby reference characters SD1,V SD2, S133 and S134. 35 Also as hereinafter set forth the corner units CU have pipe Supports associated therewith which carry the section drive units` SD and the idler rollers IR. v Y

More speciiically each of the corner units CU 40 rollers being designated by reference characters R1, R2 and R3, and each of the section drive 'units is provided with a single roller vdesignated by reference character R4. The rollers R1, R2 and R3 of each corner unit are equally spaced with respect `to a common center 4and the rollers RZ and R3 are disposed on opposite sides of said "over roller R3 of corner unit CU1 and the lower ends of belts I and 2 of conveyer section C pass 55 over the rollers R1 and R2, respectively, of said unit. The deflector belts IU of corner unit CU1 are thus arranged to guide the newspapers from press conveyer A to the belts of conveyer C. The upper ends of belts I and 2 of conveyer C pass over rollers R2 and R1 of corner unit CU2 and the delector belts I6 of said unit serve to guide the newspapers from said belts to the left hand end of belts 'I which pass over roller R1 of said unit. The adjacent ends of the belts 'I and 8 pass over roller R4 of section drive SD1 and the adjacent ends of the belts 8 and 9 pass over the roller R4 of section drive SD2. Also the right hand end of the belts 9 pass over roller R3 of corner unit CU3- The belts 1, 8 and 9 are thu's arranged to carry the newspapers from the upper end of conveyer section C to the deector belts Ill of corner unit CU3. The lower ends of the belts 4 and 6 of conveyer section E pass over rollers R1 and R2, respectively, of corner unit CU3 and the upper ends of the belts 3 and 5 of said conveyer section pass over rollers R2 and R1, respectively, of corner unit CU4. Also the adjacent ends of belts 3 and 4 pass over roller R4 of section drive SD4 while the adjacent ends of the belts 5 and. 6 pass over roller R4 of section drive SD3. The belts of conveyer section E are thus arranged to carry the newspapers upwardly from the deflector belts IU of corner unit CU3 to the deector belts IB of corner unit CU4 and the latter deector belts provide for delivery of the newspapers to conveyer B of the delivery table.

Each of the corner units CU is provided with a roller driving mechanism including a pair of shafts I I and I2 disposed in an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other and connected by a pair of miter gears I3-I3. Shaft II is arranged midway between rollers R1 and R3 and is provided with a worm I4 which meshes with a worm whee1 I5 fixed to a roller R1 and with a worm wheel I6 fixed to roller R3. Shaft I2 is arranged midway between the rollers R1 and R2 and is provided with a worm I'I which meshes with a worm wheel I8 fixed to a roller R2. Each of the section drive units SD is provided with a drive shaft I9 having a worm 20 fixed thereto which meshes with worm wheel 2| xed to roller R4. 'I'he worm and worin wheels of the various corner units CU and section drives SD all have the same speed reducing ratio and the shafts of said units are coupled together as shown in Fig. 2.

Shaft II of corner unit CU1 may be provided with mechanism for driving the same from the press or from a separate driving motor and the shaft I2 of said corner unit is connected to shaft I2 of corner unit CU2 through the medium of shafts 22 and 23. The shafts Il of corner units CU2 and CU3 are coupled together through the medium of shafts 24 to 23, inclusive, and the shafts I2 of corner units CU3 and CU1 are coupled together through the medium of shafts 30 to 34, inclusive.

In horizontal conveyer section D section drive S131 is connected between shafts 25 and 26 and section drive SD2 is connected between shafts 21 and 28. In vertical conveyer section E section drive SD3 is connected between shafts 30 and 3l, and section drive SD4 is connected between shafts 32 and 33. The various corner units CU and section drive units SD are connected to their associated shafts by suitable universal joints or flexible couplings indicatedby reference character FC and also certain of the'l shafts are connected by flexible couplings FC to intermediate bearing units indicated by reference character 1B. The shaft II of corner unit CU1 is driven from the press or by a separate motor as hereinbei'ore stated in the direction of arrow a and the rollers R1, R2 and R3 associated with the several corner units CU, and the rollers R1 associated 5 with the section drive units SD are then driven by their associated worms and worin gears in the directions indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. As is apparent, when the various drive rollers are driven in the directions indicated in Fig. 2 the 10 belts of the several conveyer sections will travel in the direction required to eiect delivery of newspapers from press conveyer A to the delivery table conveyer B.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the 15 saine illustrate a mechanical embodiment of the corner units CU diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of said corner units includes box shaped end casings 35 and 36 which are secured together by tie rods 31. Said casings are 20 triangular in shape and the side walls 38 and 39 of each are of equal length and disposed at right angles to each other. Each 0f the casings 35 and 36 is provided with outwardly projecting corner lugs 46 which are bored to receive the tie rods 25 3i and said tie rods are provided with shoulders for engaging said lugs and are secured in place by nuts 4I. Also the side walls 38 and 39 of casings -35 and 36 are each provided with a pair of spaced projections 42. The projections 42 are 30 channeled to receive pipes 43 comprising the frame work of the assembled .conveyer and each of the saine is drilled to receive a pair of U-shaped pipe clamping members 44.

' As hereinbefore stated, the drive rollers R1, R2 35 and R3 of each corner unit are equally spaced with respect to a common center and the rollers R2 and R3 are disposed on opposite sides of said center while the roller R1 is located midway between the rollers R2 and R3. Also as herenbe- 40 fore stated each of said units is provided with a pair of gear connected shafts` Il and l2, the former shaft being arranged midway between rollers R1 and R3 and being provided with a worm I4 which meshes with a worm wheel I5 fixed to 45 roller R1 and also with a worm wheel I6 Xed to roller R3 and the latter shaft being arranged midway between rollers R1 and R2 and being provided with a worm I'I which meshes with a worm wheel I8 fixed to roller R2.. As best Shown 50 in Fig. 6 the shafts I I and I2 and their associated worms I4 and I'I are carried by a bracket 45 which is secured within casing 35 by bolts 46. Bracket 45 is provided with a pair of bearing projections 41-41 located on opposite ends of 55 worm iI and a pair of bearing projections 48-48 located on opposite ends of worm I4. Said bearing projections are each provided with a ball bearing 49 for supporting the shaft of its associated worm and shaft II extends outwardly 60 through a stuffing box 50 mounted within an opening in side wall 39 of casing 35, while shaft l2 extends outwardly through a stuffing box 5I mounted within an opening in the-side Wall 38 of casing 35.

Each of the rollers R1, R2 .and R3 and its associated worm are xed to a shaft 52 and as shown in Fig. 4 each of said shafts has one end supported by a ball bearing 53 mounted within an opening in casing 36 and its opposite end extends 70 through an opening in casing 35 and is supported by-a ball bearing 54 carried by an angle bracket l 55. Bracket 55 is mounted upon the outerends of bearing projections 4'I and 48 of l*bracket 45 by screws 56. 75

The worm wheels I and I6 are of the same pitch diameter and the rollers R1 and R3 are therefore driven atcorresponding speeds by worm I4. The worm I'I is of such diameter as to clear the worm wheel I5. However, the pitch of worm Il and the pitch diameter of worm wheel I8 are such that roiier R2 is driven at the same speed as Vrollers R1 and R3.

the building framework. Also as hereinafter set forth, said pipes 43 are used in the various conveyer sections to support the section drive units SD, the idler rollers IR and the intermediate bearing units IB. The flexible coupling devices FC'associeted with shafts I I and I2 of the corner units may be of any suitable type, as for example univelsal joints of a type shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, the same illustrate a mechanical embodiment of the section drives SD diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. As hereinbefore set forth each of said section drives includes a drive shaft I9 having a worm 26 xed thereto which meshes with a worm wheel 2l fixed to the driving roller R4. Worm 26 and worin wheel 2I have the same speed reducing ratio Vas the worm and worm wheels associated with the corner units CU and the same are mounted within an enclosing casing 63. The drive roller R4 and worm wheel 2| are fixed to a drive shaft 6I and one end of said shaft is supported by a ball bearing 62 carried by casing 69, while the opposite end thereof is supported by a ball bearing 63 mounted Within an opening in a bracket 64. Casing 6I) and bracket 64 are secured together by a pair of tie rods 65.

More specifically, enclosing casing 66 consists of two parts 60a and 6I)b which are secured together by screws 56. As shown in Fig. 8 the casing parts 6I!EL and 60h are provided with ball bearings 6l for supporting shaft I9 at points on y opposite ends of worm 26 and said shaft extends outwardly in opposite directions through stuffing boxes 36 mounted within openings in said casing parts. As shown in Fig. 9 the outer walls of casing parts 66a and 6Ub are provided with a bored opening for receiving ball bearing 62 and the inner walls thereof are bored to receive shaft 6I. Casing parts ISGa and 6I!lo are, provided with oppositeiy disposed lugs 'I0 which are drilled to receive the tie rods 65 and bracket 64 is provided with oppositely disposed lugs 'II-'II which are also drilled to receive said tie rods. The tie rods 65 are shouldered to engage the inner faces of their associated lugs 'I0 and 'II and are secu-red to casing 68 and bracket 64 by nuts T2. Casing 66 and bracket 64 each have a pair of parallel supporting bars 73 secured thereto by screws '14. The supporting bars 'I3 associated with casing el) are secured to inwardly extending lugs 'I5 on the inner walls of casing parts 6Ila and Illb and the supporting bars associated with bracket 64 are secured to the rear faces of the lugs 'II on said bracket. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the supporting bars 'I3 associated with casing 60 extend between the pipes I3 on one side of the conveyer while the supporting bars 'I3 associated with bracket 64 extend between the pipes 43 on the opposite side of the conveyor.

Each yof the supportingbars 'I3 has an adjustable securing device 'I6 associated with opy posite ends thereof for securing the same to its `associated pipes. Said securing devices are `of like construction and each of the same includes "a bracket 'Il having a pair of clamping links 'I8 I' and 'I9 associated therewith. Each of the brackets 'il is provided-with a pipe receiving channelill and is also providedwith a U-shaped clamp 80 for securing the same to its associated pipe'.

Each pair of clamping links 'I8 and 'I9 has a pair of bolts 8l and 82 associated therewith for associated supporting bar 13 and the latter bolt v'passes through an opening in bracket 'I'I and serves to secure said links tosaid bracket. l

'Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the same il- 'lustrate one of the intermediate bearing units IB diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2. Each of Vsaid bearing units includes a supporting bracket fili and a shaft 85 carried by a bearing element 86 -adjustably mounted upon said bracket.

Bracket 8d is channeled adjacent opposite ends"v to receive the pipes i3 on one side of the conveyer and the end portions thereof are each drilled to receive a pair Aof U-shaped pipe clamping members 81.

As shown in Fig. l1 the opening 9i is elongated to permit adjustmentpof the bearing element 86 between its associated pipes t3.

- Each of the idler rollers IR is also supported" by brackets 8d of the construction shown in Fig'sy 11 and 12. Each of the idler rollers IR is ro.

tatably mounted upon a shaft 62 and said shaft is supported at opposite ends by a pair of brackets 64 secured to the pipes 43 on opposite sides of the conveyer. Shaft 92 is provided witlr threaded end portions of reduced diameter, and each of said end portions is provided with washers 93 and 94 and a nut 65 for adjustably securing the same to its associated bracket 84 as shown in Fig. 13.

What I claim as new Letters Patent is:

1. In a corner unit for belt conveyers, in combination, three parallel drive rollers arranged equidistantly from va common center, two of said' rollers being oppositely disposed with respect to. said center and the other being arranged midway between said former rollers,`a supporting frame for said rollers including end casing members provided with bearings for supporting said rollers, a pair of gear connected drive shafts carried by one of said casing members, a worin fixed to each of said shafts, a pair of worm wheels as.l sociated with one of said worms for driving two of said rollers at corresponding speeds and a worm wheel associated with the other of said worms for driving the other of said rollers at the same speed as said former rollers.

2. In a corner unit for newspaper conveyors, in combination, a plurality of belt driving rollers arranged in parallel relation, a pair of drive shafts for said rollers arranged in angular relation, a gear drive between said shafts, speed reducing gearing between said shafts and said rollers, and a supporting frame for the aforesaid and desire to secure by Bearing element 86 includes a., support 88 which is bored to receive a pair of" extending through an opening SI in said bracket.l

'clamping the same against opposite sides of the 515 ings for supporting said rollers, said speed reduc- `ing gearing and the gear drive between said shafts being enclosed within one of said housings, and said latter housing having bearings associated therewith for supporting said drive v shafts.

3. In a corner unit for newspaper conveyers, in combination, a plurality of belt driving rollers arranged in parallel relation, a pair of drive shafts for said rollers arranged in right angled relation, a gear drive between said shafts, a

worm and worm gear vdriving mechanism between said drive shafts and said rollers, and a supporting frame for the aforesaid parts including end housings each having bearings for supporting said rollers, said worm and worm gear driving mechanism and the gear drive between ysaid shafts being completely enclosed within one of said housings, and said shafts being supported by bearings within said housing.

4. In a corner unit for newspaper conveyers, in combination, a plurality of belt driving rollers arranged in parallel relation, a pair of drive shafts for said rollers arranged in right angled relation, a gear drive between said shafts, a worm and worm gear driving mechanism between said drive shafts and said rollers, and a supporting frame for the aforesaid parts including a box like end housing for enclosing said worm and worm gear driving mechanism and the gear drive 'between said shafts, said housing having bearings therewithin for supporting said shafts and having stufng boxes in the side wall thereof for receiving said shafts.

5. In a newspaper conveyer, in combination, two belt conveyer sections arranged in angular relation, a corner unit arranged between the adjacent ends of said conveyer sections and including a plurality of rollers for driving the belts of vsaid conveyer sections, a shaft drive extending from the receiving end of said conveyer sections to the delivery end thereof, said shaft drive including a pair of gear connected drive shafts associated with said corner unit, and a worm and worm gear driving mechanism associated with said corner unit for driving the rollers thereof from its-associated pair of gear connected drive shafts.

6. In a newspaper conveyer, in combination, two belt conveyer sections arranged in angular relation, a corner unit arranged between the adjacent ends of said conveyer sections, and including a plurality of rollers for driving the belts of said conveyer sections, pipe supports for said conveyer sections arranged in pairs on opposite sides thereof and xed to said corner unit, and a shaft drive extending from the receiving end of said conveyer sections to the delivery end thereof and arranged between the pipe supports on` one side of said conveyer sections, said shaft drive including a pair fof. gear, connected shafts associated with said corner kunit land aworm andworm gear drive mechanisrnassociatedwith said corner unit for driving the rollers thereof `from its associated pair rof .vgearconnected shafts.

4. .7L-"In af newspaper conveyer, vthe combination with averi-,ical conveyer section and a horizontal conveyer sectionlo'cated'at one end of said former section, each yof said conveyer sections including A, end rollers, intermediate rollers and endless belts passingoversaid rollers, of pipe supports for said [intermediate rollers' arranged in pairs on opposite 4 sides of said conveyer sections, a shaft drive arrangedbetwfeen the pipe supports on one side of said conveye'rfsections, and a corner drive unit for the rollers on the adjacent ends of said conveyer sections, said unit being xed to said pipe supfports and .having worm and worm gear speed reducinggearing associated therewith for connecting its associated rollers to said shaft drive.

1 k8. Ina newspaper conveyer, in combination, a

conveyer section comprising endless belts and end rollers yuponwhich said belts are mounted in a parallel relation with adjacent portions to grip the newspapers therebetween, end drive units supporting the rollers at opposite ends of said conveyor section and each having a worm and worm gear drive associated therewith for driving its associated rollers, pipe supports arranged on opposite sides of said conveyer section and fixed at opposite ends to said end units, intermediate drive units fixed to said pipe supports, each including a belt roller and a worm and worm gear drive therefor, said intermediate units being arranged to hold adjacent portions of said belts in position to grip the newspapers therebetween, and a shaft drive extending between said units.

9. In a newspaper conveyer, in combination, a conveyer section comprising endless belts, and end rollers upon which said belts are mounted in a parallel relation with adjacent portions to grip the newspapers therebetween, end drive units supporting the rollers at opposite ends of said conveyer section and each having a worm and worm gear drive associated therewith for driving its associated rollers, pipe supports arranged in pairs on opposite sides of said conveyer section and fixed at opposite ends to said end units, a shaft drive arranged between the pipe supports on one side of said conveyer section and connecting said end units, and intermediate drive units adjust'ably mounted upon said pipe supports and units bemg arranged to hold adjacent portions of said belts in position to grip the newspapers therebetween.

EDWIN N. LIGHTFOOT. 

